Hearing impaired RN and telephone use

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Specializes in GYN/Med-Surg.

I am a hearing impaired RN and I work in a hospital on an acute-care unit. I'm currently still on orientation while the hospital tries to figure out how to get me a telephone that I can use. Since I'm unable to speak on a normal phone, we tried getting a captioned phone (CaptionCall was the company), but the company refused to sign the privacy/HIPAA agreement. So right now the hospital is keeping me on "orientation" status until they get this issue resolved. My question is, are there ANY other deaf/HOH nurses out there who can't hear on the phone, who have found a solution that works for them and their employer? I wear one hearing aid and one cochlear implant and do just fine in face-to-face situations since I lip-read. I just have a problem when it comes to having to make phone calls. Right now, my preceptor has been making all of the Dr/lab/pharmacy, etc. calls. I am really concerned that I could lose my job over this issue. I am doing well with my orientation and my coworkers, supervisors, and patients like me. I am a fairly new nurse so all eyes are on me to do well. Anyone have a solution that would be a viable option to consider? Thanks in advance for any suggestions :)

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.

AF,

I don't have any hearing impairment, but I did work at Wisconsin TRS during college. Have you used TRS? I would "speak" with TRS and ask if they have advice on the issue. At the center I worked at in Wisconsin, we had people working there that would have been happy to help you explore options. I imagine it's the same in Florida, and that they have experience with hospital situations.

Let me know if they're able to help. If not, I'll try to think of other resources.

Also, don't worry about losing your job. I don't think they want that lawsuit and the associated media. A modified phone falls well within "reasonable accomodations" under ADA.

Nick

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Specializes in Cardiac (adult), CC, Peds, MH/Substance.
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I too am hard of hearing. Bilateral BTEs. Prior to injuring my back I worked acute care for 7 years. I put in for straight night shift cuz it's quieter and less phone calls. Most of the time I handed the phone to someone else. I now have a captioned phone at home - captioncall like you mentioned. Not sure why the issue with hippa by the phone folks. I would have expected it to be the hospital who objected. Are they the only caption phone makers? Is there more information regarding the reason for not agreeing to hippa? How is this different from a patient with a captioned phone receiving "private" calls? Hopefully it's resolvable for you.

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Specializes in Internal and Family Medicine.

You can't legally lose your job over this issue, as it would be a serious violation of the person's with disabilities legislation. However, we all know there are many ways to be forced out, or bullied into quitting. I suggest you contact an audiologist. There are devices you can attach to a phone to amplify the voices without making them heard by everyone. It works for some, but you may not benefit from this one. I'm not sure that the Caption Call people should even be asked to sign a HIPPA. Sounds like your hospitals legal dept. is just trying to cover their asses. Meanwhile, who is covering yours? I'm hard of hearing too, but don't wear an aid. I usually adjust the volume on phones, and do a lot of asking people to repeat themselves. We live in a culture of low talkers an mumblers, so that doesn't help the situation...I know. Hospitals, ironically, can the the worst about accommodating disabilities, but they don't have a choice. The second you slap down a document from the American Disabilities Act, or gather someone into your corner (say, attorney who specializes in disabilities), you will magically get all of the devices and accommodations that you need. Do a quick search online, of hearing impaired devices and accommodations for physicians and nurses. There is something out there for you.

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How do you guys do with using a sethescope? I want to go into nursing but having to use a sethescope to hear sounds has me worried since I'm hard of hearing. I have a hard time hearing the low to normal talking voice. Especially if I'm not standing close to the person. It kills me when people talk so quietly and mumble. Makes it that much harder to understand them. What about masks? I currently work in a hospital in the pharmacy dept. and when flu season was here and everyone was wearing a mask it was difficult/harder (but not impossible) to understand people. I wish I was fully hearing. It would make my life so much easier.

Thanks,

K

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Specializes in Med-Surg.

Hi K,

I have moderate hearing loss in both ears and I wear in-the-ear hearing aids. I definitely feel your frustration as well! Even with hearing aids, I felt that way all throughout nursing school, struggling to hear patients and colleagues, but I survived with an electronic stethoscope. Depending on the severity of your hearing, you can benefit from buying an electronic stethoscope that amplifies heart and lung sounds.

However, as with the high expense of hearing aids--these can cost over $100. The quality of the scope will depend on your budget (scholarships, loans, own money) or any support from the school's office of disability. These stethoscopes definitely be an investment for your nursing career! Here are a handful of the companies that sell them: Littmann, Thinklabs, and Cardionics.

I personally own the Littmann 3100, which the companies claims to amplify sounds 34x. I found this scope to be a 6 out of 10 rating, it simply was not loud enough for me. I recently purchased the Thinkslab one--which allows me to use headphones--have not yet tested on patients, but definitely louder than the Littmann! I was a low-income student, so I "invested" my loan money for my Littmann. It definitely helped me feel less conscious about my hearing. Check out eBay or Amazon for good deals!

Keep in mind, hearing heart and lung sounds can be a challenge even to those with better hearing. Some of my former classmates were always second guessing themselves--which is normal as students. If you are an introvert like me, it adds extra stress having to ask people to repeat themselves--especially if they do not realize you have hearing loss. I am working on letting people know I have hearing loss so they can speak louder--but more people need education on this as well.

Anyways, do not let your disability stop you from following your dreams. Do your research on the school's disability office and connect with more people going through similar experiences! Good luck in the future. :)

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I know I am late on this post, but I too have found it difficult to hear on the phone. This is especially so if there is a lot of background noise. I have not been to an audiologist due to being underinsured. I'm glad to know I'm not the only one who is having a difficult time hearing on the phone.

I had a hard time hearing a patient on the phone today (not to mention I'm not familiar with the phones and software since I'm clinical). I gave it my best, but told the patient I would transfer him to someone more knowledgable regarding his question.

Any my more tips would be great. I sometimes have a hard time hearing the blood pressure if it is noisy as well.

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